{"id":22327,"date":"2018-05-22T18:17:14","date_gmt":"2018-05-22T22:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=22327"},"modified":"2018-05-22T18:17:14","modified_gmt":"2018-05-22T22:17:14","slug":"alexa-start-my-car-latest-app-for-auto-revolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2018\/05\/alexa-start-my-car-latest-app-for-auto-revolution","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Alexa, start my car\u2019: Latest app for auto revolution"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"alexa_NEWecosport\"<\/p>\n<\/div>

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto? Dude, that\u2019s so 15 minutes ago.<\/p>\n

Amazon\u2019s Alexa assistant is the latest must-have vehicle app as carmakers rush to put connectivity on wheels.<\/p>\n

Alexa offers similar conveniences for the car that Amazon Echo users have come to expect in the home. In fact, most of the dozen brands with Alexa connectivity limit its use to the home Echo device to communicate with the car:\u00a0Alexa, start my car. Alexa, lock the car doors.<\/em><\/p>\n

But Ford Motor Co. (and its luxury arm Lincoln) takes it a step further, expanding those in-home commands to in-car demands.\u00a0Called \u201cFord + Alexa,\u201d the feature<\/a>\u00a0can be used to ask for directions on the road or play music. Sample commands include:<\/p>\n

Alexa, where is the closest barbecue restaurant?<\/em><\/p>\n

Alexa, play my workout playlist.<\/em><\/p>\n

Alexa, what\u2019s on my calendar tonight?<\/em><\/p>\n

The in-car feature can also be used to communicate with smart-home systems. Mike Severson, Ford\u2019s marketing manager for connected vehicles and technology, says that effectively makes a round trip from home to work seamless: Users can pre-heat the interior of the car from inside the house for a commute to work, then boost the thermostat of the house from inside the car on the return journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cTechnology is something a lot of people crave,\u201d says Severson. \u201cWe partner with the big boys to deliver that to the customer. People are very passionate about (their apps). Technology is increasingly more important on the vehicle purchase decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Bluetooth to Wi-Fi to music apps like Pandora, automobiles have become extensions of smartphone apps. Apple CarPlay first rolled out in upscale cars like Ferrari and Mercedes in 2014, allowing smartphones to take over a vehicle\u2019s infotainment display. The app was slow to catch on.<\/p>\n

\n